What is Radon and Why is it Dangerous in My Home?
Learn
About What Exactly Radon Is and How Best to Protect Your Home
Protecting
your family and home is your number one priority. But what if you don’t know
there is something in your air to be protecting against? Radon is an odorless
and colorless gas that is potentially dangerous. Radon can move up through the
ground and into the air
inside your home through cracks or holes in your foundation. It can even enter
through your water well.
Continue
reading to learn more about what radon is, why it’s concerning and how to best
protect your home and family.
What Is
Radon?
According
to the EPA
(United States Environmental Protection Agency), “Radon
is a naturally-occurring radioactive gas that can cause lung
cancer.” This gas is inert, colorless and odorless. The American
Cancer Society explains that radon forms from the breaking down of radioactive
elements, for example uranium, which is typically found in varying amounts in
rocks and soil throughout the world.
When outdoors, radon
will disperse rapidly, so it’s not generally cause for concern. Indoors
however, it will not disperse and can cause various health issues after long
term exposure.
Why Is It
Dangerous?
The EPA
states that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United
States. There are an estimated 21,000
deaths each year from radon-related lung cancer. Only smoking
causes more lung cancer deaths. Some studies suggest that exposure
may be linked to other types of cancer as well such as childhood
leukemia.
How Can
You Protect Your Home?
Being
proactive is key. There are measurable steps you can take to control and
reduce radon exposure. You’ll want to have your home tested, either by a
professional or with a DIY radon
kit. Per the EPA
website, it is suggested you begin mitigating if levels are at or above
148 Bq/m3 (4 pCi/L).
Typically,
radon problems can be fixed using an underground ventilation system or simply
by increasing the rate of air changes throughout the building. According to the
American
Cancer Society, it is not recommended that you live or
work for long periods of time in basements, as radon levels are
usually highest in these areas. It’s important to recognize that exposure can
occur anywhere indoors. Radon levels will vary greatly depending on the
characteristics of the rocks
and soil in your area. With that in mind, it might be worth asking your
employer if your
office has a radon mitigation system, as well as your children’s school
district, especially if your area is known for higher levels of radon.
Oftentimes,
radon testing will be required to be taken by a professional when you are in
the process of buying or selling your home. When buying
a new home, it’s a good idea to ask whether or not the home contains
radon-resistance features, such as a gas permeable layer, plastic sheeting,
vent piping, or a
junction box.
While
dealing with issues such as this can feel daunting, the most important thing is
prevention. Now that you are prepared to defend your
home and family against radon, you might also be interested in giving
your home a wellness check-up. Check out the link below for more information!
